The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-11-10
DECLINE OF HOSPITALITY.
The Thres Causes Which Threaten Its
Extinction in Cities and Towns.


Extinction in Cities and Towns.
First, the enormous increase of
/ travel; second, the pressure of occupa-
patton, and third, the growing expen-
siveness of living, especially in the
/ great centers.
! The passion for travel which has de-
velOped in all countries, but most here
in America. makes people unwilling to
keep up complicated establishment
which must be shut up or left to run
itself when the proprietor takes his
winter trip to Florida, or his summer
jaunt to Norway. Each year. there
fore, increases the number of people
who prefer to live in a hotel, or an
apartment, with the fewest possible
servants. This at once becomes a hand
leap on hospitality, since the coming of
guest implies an immediate upheaval
of the routine of living.
A young married man was recently
looking over the plan of fiat which
he was considering for future home,
when friend at his elbow remarked:
But it gives you no guest room"
EXACTLY SC" was the cynical response,
''that is why have decided to take it. ="
The statement may seem brutal, but it
is fact patent to all, that to keep
open house in New York is to keep
railroad hotel. The strain upon
the nervous vitality of the host, and
especially the hostess, would be enor-
nous, even if it were their only occu-
patton; but that it seldom is. Never,
perhaps, in the history of the world has
the pressure on the vitality. the time
and the nerves of men and women been
so great rs it is to-day. How can Il
woman sit down to calm enjoyment of
q visit, when she is haunted by the
ghosts of unwritten letters, unreturned
calls and unread books: not to mention
such prOsaic specters rs undarned stock
ings and uncared-for children. These
duties may be put aside for one guest,
but when the circle becomes unending,
they grow with impossibilities. The
strain upon the man of the house is al
most rs great. He returns from a days
work at the office, which leaves every
nerve throbbing with irritation. He is
fit for nothing but dressing-sack, pipe
and slippers before the fire, or a resting
nap on the sofa. Instead, he is requested
to hurry off to meet his wife's cousins or
still worse. his own, who are to arrive
ut the Grand Central Station from Da-
kOta ut 7:S0. Their arrival delays the
dinner-hour, thereby adding indigestion
to his other troubles.
So long as the expenses of living fall
well within the income, hospitality is
comparatively easy. but the moment
there is any difficulty in meeting the
monthly bills, a visitor is actually
dreaded. The small family economies
must either be put aside and the fnan-
cial problem allowed to grow still moro
complicated, or they must be made pain
fully apparent when contrasted with
the aggressive abundance which riots
in the streets about. How true is the
saying that New York belongs to the
very rich and the very poor! For the
modest income there seems to be no
abiding place in New York. Then the
which, as country people !
fancy, make it so easy to entertain
visitors in New York, are in reality SO /
many unceasing calls for expenditure.
The concert, the theater and the opera !
are not, as rule, gratuitous entertain